Hurricane Melissa has inflicted widespread disaster across Jamaica, particularly hitting the north coast parish of St. Ann. Today, most residents there are living without electrical power.
Many people woke up to discover the wind had completely ripped the roof from their homes. Melissa violently swept through the island, uprooting utility poles and trees, and leveling structures in its path.
Priory Residents Recount Unprecedented Storm Force
In the community of Priory, fisherman George “Larry” Brown, 68, shared his frightening experience. The morning of the storm was initially quiet. “Just a little rain,” he recalled.
However, conditions changed dramatically by 5:00 pm Tuesday. Rain and wind gusts rapidly intensified. Soon after, his roof gave way. “I just heard a sound, and it just started to tear off,” Brown recounted.
Brown stated Melissa was the worst storm he had ever witnessed. He stressed that Hurricane Gilbert, the destructive 1988 benchmark, was “no match.“ Melissa was an extremely powerful, top-tier hurricane. It brought sustained winds peaking near 300 kilometers per hour. The entire country also endured torrential rain.
Families Face Homelessness and Financial Ruin
The intensity of Hurricane Melissa tied a 90-year-old meteorological record. It matched the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the most powerful storm ever to make landfall. This statistic underscores the level of destruction.
Brown’s neighbor, Kayan Davis, is a mother of three. Her roof was torn off sometime after 11:00 pm. Consequently, she is now temporarily homeless. “I have no where to sleep… I am going to have to contact the authorities,” Davis explained, seeking urgent help.
Meanwhile, Marvin Thomas, a 40-year-old janitorial worker in Priory, faced a tree crash. A massive tree fell onto his home around 8:00 pm. “The tree dropped… and the housetop started to demolish,” Thomas said. He was forced to escape to a friend’s house.
Therefore, rebuilding is an overwhelming financial obstacle for Thomas. “I have to go out there to hunt now, to try to rebuild up myself,” he admitted, facing economic despair.
Police Lead Major Cleanup in Trelawny Parish
Similar scenes of destruction were reported in the neighboring parish of Trelawny. Security supervisor Sandra Scott in Salt Marsh described high floodwaters.
The rising water damaged her fence and stripped the membrane from her roof. Scott and neighbors used sandbags in an attempt to keep the water out.
Infrastructure across Trelawny sustained extensive damage. This included William Knibb High School, the famous alma mater of Usain Bolt.
Police Chief Velonique Campbell led the immediate recovery. She and 30 officers deployed chainsaws and machetes to clear blocked roads. The priority was keeping main routes clear for aid and supplies.
Rio Cobre Floods Cause Loss in Bog Walk
In the town of Bog Walk, there was mixed fortune. Bar owner Maureen Samuels expressed gratitude after a huge tree narrowly missed her establishment. “Thanks be to God the bar wasn’t damaged,” she said after seeing the damage in the morning.
However, the nearby Rio Cobre river overflowed its banks. This caused severe flooding. Samuels confirmed the river damaged several properties, including a friend’s hog farm. “We have been affected badly,” she concluded. The widespread impact highlights the challenge of recovery across all affected communities.
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